Best computer for graphics apps?

Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap of
$2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
minute movie clip can take hours.

Other programs used: Macromedia suite, Swift 3d, illustrator, microsoft
office apps, etc (none of which have posed any problems thus far).

I need recommendations for a PC (not mac) with tons of power for the
graphics apps. Preferrably duel monitor if it can fit into the budget.
Please no flames about how macs are better, we cannot use macs here.

Roger McDoogal wrote:
> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap of
> $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.
>
> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
> minute movie clip can take hours.
>
> Other programs used: Macromedia suite, Swift 3d, illustrator, microsoft
> office apps, etc (none of which have posed any problems thus far).
>
> I need recommendations for a PC (not mac) with tons of power for the
> graphics apps. Preferrably duel monitor if it can fit into the budget.
> Please no flames about how macs are better, we cannot use macs here.
>
>

Check out these:

http://tinyurl.com/bsv66
http://tinyurl.com/9k5qm

NewEgg and TigerDirect are good companies that I've bought from for
years. Don't expect a lot of pre-sales help and be sure you understand
their return policies.

TigerDirect's deals come from buying their refurbished units. They can
be great deals. Otherwise, NewEgg will be less expensive -- if they have it.

I put you on computers with AMD 64 processors. Those are the best
graphics processors available right now and the prices are pretty good.
You will want as fast a processor as you can afford.

The other key thing you want is lots of memory. Some of these start with
512 MB and some with 1 GB. Check very carefully how many memory slots
the computer has and in how pieces the standard memory comes. If it only
comes with one 512 MB and you only have 2 memory slots, you will need to
buy another 1 GB DDR to make a total of 1.5 GB. I would think you would
really want 2 GB of memory. More memory slots will give you more
flexibility for the future. Buy as much memory as you can fit in the
computer!!! (Well, 2 GB anyway. You have to configure XP Pro to get it
to use 3 GB.)

You will probably want at least 120 GB of HD to start with. You may want
more, but adding HD is pretty easy later. There really isn't much
difference in the speed of the HD until you get into the expensive 10K
RPM models. Save that for later.

Pay no attention to the computer brand. Computers are commodities and
they all use the same parts. You don't need a fancy graphics card, but
some of these come with them anyway.

Use your old monitor or spend the rest on a good, big CRT. They are way
cheaper than LCDs and easier to color manage. A good LCD for Photoshop
is very expensive. Although the LCD will be a lot less to ship.

http://tinyurl.com/cjhp9
http://tinyurl.com/ajxkn

Frankly, you can get a pretty darn good computer for $2,000. I built my
own, but some of these deals are even cheaper than that.

Clyde

Roger McDoogal wrote:
> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap of
> $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.
>
> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
> minute movie clip can take hours.
>
> Other programs used: Macromedia suite, Swift 3d, illustrator, microsoft
> office apps, etc (none of which have posed any problems thus far).
>
> I need recommendations for a PC (not mac) with tons of power for the
> graphics apps. Preferrably duel monitor if it can fit into the budget.
> Please no flames about how macs are better, we cannot use macs here.
>
>

Check out these:

http://tinyurl.com/bsv66
http://tinyurl.com/9k5qm

NewEgg and TigerDirect are good companies that I've bought from for
years. Don't expect a lot of pre-sales help and be sure you understand
their return policies.

TigerDirect's deals come from buying their refurbished units. They can
be great deals. Otherwise, NewEgg will be less expensive -- if they have it.

I put you on computers with AMD 64 processors. Those are the best
graphics processors available right now and the prices are pretty good.
You will want as fast a processor as you can afford.

The other key thing you want is lots of memory. Some of these start with
512 MB and some with 1 GB. Check very carefully how many memory slots
the computer has and in how pieces the standard memory comes. If it only
comes with one 512 MB and you only have 2 memory slots, you will need to
buy another 1 GB DDR to make a total of 1.5 GB. I would think you would
really want 2 GB of memory. More memory slots will give you more
flexibility for the future. Buy as much memory as you can fit in the
computer!!! (Well, 2 GB anyway. You have to configure XP Pro to get it
to use 3 GB.)

You will probably want at least 120 GB of HD to start with. You may want
more, but adding HD is pretty easy later. There really isn't much
difference in the speed of the HD until you get into the expensive 10K
RPM models. Save that for later.

Pay no attention to the computer brand. Computers are commodities and
they all use the same parts. You don't need a fancy graphics card, but
some of these come with them anyway.

Use your old monitor or spend the rest on a good, big CRT. They are way
cheaper than LCDs and easier to color manage. A good LCD for Photoshop
is very expensive. Although the LCD will be a lot less to ship.

http://tinyurl.com/cjhp9
http://tinyurl.com/ajxkn

Frankly, you can get a pretty darn good computer for $2,000. I built my
own, but some of these deals are even cheaper than that.

Clyde

"Clyde" <clyde@world.comedy> wrote in message
news:NoGdnVUVAOqFuWffRVn-rQ@comcast.com...
> Roger McDoogal wrote:
>> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap
>> of $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My
>> standard usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size
>> documents that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig
>> memory) I am currently using. For instance, applying a change in
>> brightness/contrast could take up to 3 minutes to complete.
>>
>> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
>> minute movie clip can take hours.
>>
>> Other programs used: Macromedia suite, Swift 3d, illustrator, microsoft
>> office apps, etc (none of which have posed any problems thus far).
>>
>> I need recommendations for a PC (not mac) with tons of power for the
>> graphics apps. Preferrably duel monitor if it can fit into the budget.
>> Please no flames about how macs are better, we cannot use macs here.
>
> Check out these:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/bsv66
> http://tinyurl.com/9k5qm
>
> NewEgg and TigerDirect are good companies that I've bought from for years.
> Don't expect a lot of pre-sales help and be sure you understand their
> return policies.
>
> TigerDirect's deals come from buying their refurbished units. They can be
> great deals. Otherwise, NewEgg will be less expensive -- if they have it.
>
> I put you on computers with AMD 64 processors. Those are the best graphics
> processors available right now and the prices are pretty good. You will
> want as fast a processor as you can afford.
>
> The other key thing you want is lots of memory. Some of these start with
> 512 MB and some with 1 GB. Check very carefully how many memory slots the
> computer has and in how pieces the standard memory comes. If it only comes
> with one 512 MB and you only have 2 memory slots, you will need to buy
> another 1 GB DDR to make a total of 1.5 GB. I would think you would really
> want 2 GB of memory. More memory slots will give you more flexibility for
> the future. Buy as much memory as you can fit in the computer!!! (Well, 2
> GB anyway. You have to configure XP Pro to get it to use 3 GB.)
>
> You will probably want at least 120 GB of HD to start with. You may want
> more, but adding HD is pretty easy later. There really isn't much
> difference in the speed of the HD until you get into the expensive 10K RPM
> models. Save that for later.
>
> Pay no attention to the computer brand. Computers are commodities and they
> all use the same parts. You don't need a fancy graphics card, but some of
> these come with them anyway.
>
> Use your old monitor or spend the rest on a good, big CRT. They are way
> cheaper than LCDs and easier to color manage. A good LCD for Photoshop is
> very expensive. Although the LCD will be a lot less to ship.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cjhp9
> http://tinyurl.com/ajxkn
>
> Frankly, you can get a pretty darn good computer for $2,000. I built my
> own, but some of these deals are even cheaper than that.
>
> Clyde

Thanks for the advice, Clyde. I have heard that a good graphics card is
important for 3d Studio. Do you have any insight on this?

"Clyde" <clyde@world.comedy> wrote in message
news:NoGdnVUVAOqFuWffRVn-rQ@comcast.com...
> Roger McDoogal wrote:
>> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap
>> of $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My
>> standard usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size
>> documents that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig
>> memory) I am currently using. For instance, applying a change in
>> brightness/contrast could take up to 3 minutes to complete.
>>
>> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
>> minute movie clip can take hours.
>>
>> Other programs used: Macromedia suite, Swift 3d, illustrator, microsoft
>> office apps, etc (none of which have posed any problems thus far).
>>
>> I need recommendations for a PC (not mac) with tons of power for the
>> graphics apps. Preferrably duel monitor if it can fit into the budget.
>> Please no flames about how macs are better, we cannot use macs here.
>
> Check out these:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/bsv66
> http://tinyurl.com/9k5qm
>
> NewEgg and TigerDirect are good companies that I've bought from for years.
> Don't expect a lot of pre-sales help and be sure you understand their
> return policies.
>
> TigerDirect's deals come from buying their refurbished units. They can be
> great deals. Otherwise, NewEgg will be less expensive -- if they have it.
>
> I put you on computers with AMD 64 processors. Those are the best graphics
> processors available right now and the prices are pretty good. You will
> want as fast a processor as you can afford.
>
> The other key thing you want is lots of memory. Some of these start with
> 512 MB and some with 1 GB. Check very carefully how many memory slots the
> computer has and in how pieces the standard memory comes. If it only comes
> with one 512 MB and you only have 2 memory slots, you will need to buy
> another 1 GB DDR to make a total of 1.5 GB. I would think you would really
> want 2 GB of memory. More memory slots will give you more flexibility for
> the future. Buy as much memory as you can fit in the computer!!! (Well, 2
> GB anyway. You have to configure XP Pro to get it to use 3 GB.)
>
> You will probably want at least 120 GB of HD to start with. You may want
> more, but adding HD is pretty easy later. There really isn't much
> difference in the speed of the HD until you get into the expensive 10K RPM
> models. Save that for later.
>
> Pay no attention to the computer brand. Computers are commodities and they
> all use the same parts. You don't need a fancy graphics card, but some of
> these come with them anyway.
>
> Use your old monitor or spend the rest on a good, big CRT. They are way
> cheaper than LCDs and easier to color manage. A good LCD for Photoshop is
> very expensive. Although the LCD will be a lot less to ship.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/cjhp9
> http://tinyurl.com/ajxkn
>
> Frankly, you can get a pretty darn good computer for $2,000. I built my
> own, but some of these deals are even cheaper than that.
>
> Clyde

Thanks for the advice, Clyde. I have heard that a good graphics card is
important for 3d Studio. Do you have any insight on this?

> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents

Make sure you really understand DPI and aren't making your images too large.

> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am

RAM will be everything.

The generic brand names earned, in past, a bit of a rep for being slower
than machines in their class needed to be. Packard Bell of particular note.
It may be worth checking around to see what users think of the "no, we make
machines for artists" brands; AlienWare and Boxx come to mind. If they
really make the difference.

Suspect two grand is a little low if you want the machine you want.

Research hard drives. May be worth getting the next faster rpm. Don't know.

> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

That's got to be tedious as hell. How big actually are your images?

> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
> minute movie clip can take hours.

Rendering a two minute movie clip takes hours. Being an occasional user
doesn't help there either.

> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents

Make sure you really understand DPI and aren't making your images too large.

> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am

RAM will be everything.

The generic brand names earned, in past, a bit of a rep for being slower
than machines in their class needed to be. Packard Bell of particular note.
It may be worth checking around to see what users think of the "no, we make
machines for artists" brands; AlienWare and Boxx come to mind. If they
really make the difference.

Suspect two grand is a little low if you want the machine you want.

Research hard drives. May be worth getting the next faster rpm. Don't know.

> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

That's got to be tedious as hell. How big actually are your images?

> I also use of 3ds max on occasion for product modeling. Rendering a two
> minute movie clip can take hours.

Rendering a two minute movie clip takes hours. Being an occasional user
doesn't help there either.

"Roger McDoogal" <mcdoogal@snip.net> wrote in message
news:tZnKe.27717$Kx6.17741@fe12.lga...
> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap
> of $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

Don't forget to look at computer manufacturer's we sites for refurbished
units. I've purchased 5 Dell refurbs over the last two years and not a
single hardware problem with any of them. Typically they go for about 1/3
off the full retail price. Compaq and IBM have had such sites in the past
as well.

Norm

"Roger McDoogal" <mcdoogal@snip.net> wrote in message
news:tZnKe.27717$Kx6.17741@fe12.lga...
> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap
> of $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

Don't forget to look at computer manufacturer's we sites for refurbished
units. I've purchased 5 Dell refurbs over the last two years and not a
single hardware problem with any of them. Typically they go for about 1/3
off the full retail price. Compaq and IBM have had such sites in the past
as well.

Norm

In article <tZnKe.27717$Kx6.17741@fe12.lga>,
"Roger McDoogal" <mcdoogal@snip.net> wrote:

> Ok, boss man said that he is getting me a new computer, and has set a cap of
> $2,000 with a little wiggle room if it is important enough. My standard
> usage includes Photoshop mostly, sometimes 300 DPI poster size documents
> that run extremely slow on this year-old HP pavillion (1 gig memory) I am
> currently using. For instance, applying a change in brightness/contrast
> could take up to 3 minutes to complete.

Not directly related to your question, but just as an aside:

Avoid using the "Brightness/Contrast" and "Color Balance" commands. They
are 'linear' commands, which degrade the quality of the image by
clipping hilight and shadow detail.

Use the Curves command instead. Curves can do everything that
Brightness/Contrast and Color Balance can do, but Curves is 'nonlinear'
and won't degrade your image by clipping hilight and shadow detail.
Curves also offers you more control--for example, you can increase
contrast only in the shadow detail without affecting detail in hilights.

--
Art, photography, shareware, polyamory, literature, kink:
all at http://www.xeromag.com/franklin.html